[Archaeological Institute of America](https://www.archaeological.org)

April 1, 2026

No monetary award; recognition honor presented annually at the AIA Annual Meeting.

Recognizes exceptional contributions that advance public understanding and support for archaeology and the preservation of the archaeological record.

--- ## Description This award, presented by the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), honors individuals, organizations, institutions, or corporations that have made outstanding contributions to promoting public understanding, interest in, and support for archaeology and the preservation of the archaeological record. The award celebrates impactful actions such as public education, legal advocacy, emergency response, repatriation efforts, and fostering international cooperation that elevate archaeology's profile and contribute to safeguarding the world's archaeological heritage. The award is a recognition honor and does not include a monetary prize. --- ## Due Dates - April 1, 2026 (deadline for nominations for the award to be presented at the following AIA Annual Meeting) --- ## Funding Amount - This is a recognition award; no monetary funding is provided. - Award is presented annually (at the discretion of the reviewing committee) at the AIA Annual Meeting. --- ## Eligibility - Nominees may be individuals, organizations, institutions, or corporations. - Nominees do **not** need to be members of the Archaeological Institute of America. - There are no institutional or membership requirements for nominees. --- ## Application Process - Nominations may be submitted by any AIA member or AIA committee. - Required materials: - A detailed statement outlining the candidate’s contributions, suitable for use in a citation. - All nomination materials must be received by AIA Headquarters by the deadline (April 1). - The AIA Cultural Heritage Committee reviews nominations and recommends a recipient to the Governing Board by October. - Nominators are notified of results in November. - The award is presented at the AIA Annual Meeting in January. --- ## Additional Information - The award may not be presented every year; it is given at the discretion of the committee. - Past recipients include professionals, volunteers, legal teams, emergency response initiatives, and organizations involved in heritage protection and advocacy. --- ## External Links - [Outstanding Public Service Award Program Page](https://www.archaeological.org/grant/outstanding-public-service-award/) - [AIA Grants & Awards Overview](https://www.archaeological.org/programs/professionals/grants-awards/) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | Web Contact Form | |------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------|------------------| | AIA Awards | [awards@archaeological.org](mailto:awards@archaeological.org) | 857-305-9350 | [Contact AIA](https://www.archaeological.org/contact/) | ---

Outstanding Public Service Award

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